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- Jean C. Mooring, Editor -
What to look for:
Early woodland flowers
Three of our earliest floral harbingers of spring still bloom along the
Illinois Prairie Path: skunk cabbage, bloodroot and spring beauty. Most
remarkable is the skunk cabbage, which may begin to bloom in late February
in its habitat of wet, even snow-covered, soil in woods or swamps. It has
a curious mottled green or purple brown spathe which shields the heavy rounded
spadix with its flowers containing both stamens (male, pollen-bearing) and
pistils (female, seed-producing). The leaves eventually grow very large
(one to three feet) and have an unpleasant odor when crushed. Skunk cabbage
may be found near Prince Crossing Road.
A different habitat is preferred by bloodroot, which grows in great
profusion on the wooded railroad embankment beside the Path near Taylor
Avenue in Glen Ellyn. This beautiful flower takes its name from the orange-red
juice in the stems and roots, which was used by the Indians for war paint.
The pale lobed leaf curves around the stalk, which bears a showy white
flower with eight to ten petals. Each flower lasts only a short time,
so keep your eyes open or you'll miss this snow-like display.
Much more common is the little spring beauty which proliferates in suburban
lawns as well as in moist woodsy places along the Path. It has two smooth,
linear leaves and white or pink flowers with darker Pink veins, and blooms
from the first week in March for up to two months. "The tuberous
roots may be boiled, salted and eaten. They reputedly have the flavor
of chestnuts. Young leaves, rich in vitamins A and C, can be used in salads."*
A word of warning: None of these flowers nor any others except
noxious weeds like garlic mustard or purple loosestrife should ever be
dug up or removed from the Path.
*From Spring Woodland Wildflowers of Illinois, Department
of Conservation Division of Forestry, by Robert H. Mohlenbrock, Southern
Illinois University, p. 184.
A thirty-year dream of May Theilgaard Watts and the other Illinois Prairie
Path founders will come true this year. The DuPage County Division of Transportation
is making every effort to finish the final link in the nine-mile-long Geneva
Spur by June first, in time for the National Trails Day celebration. The
almost two-mile connecting section runs west from County Farm Road on the
south side of Geneva Road to Winfield Road, where it crosses at the light
and then runs south along the west side of Winfield Road 600 feet, at which
point it turns west and winds through Winfield Mounds Forest Preserve to
the new bridge over the West Branch of the DuPage River. West of the river
it turns south and continues to the right-of-way of the old Chicago, Aurora
and Elgin Railway, and then heads west to Lake Drive. There it connects
to the already-built sections of the trail through the City of West Chicago,
the West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve, the DuPage County Airport, and
the City of Geneva in Kane County, where the Prairie Path joins the Fox
River Trail system.
Many people will agree that the IPP Geneva Spur is the most scenic and
interesting multipurpose trail built in DuPage and Kane Counties since
the major parts of the Illinois Prairie Path and the Fox River Trail were
completed. This trail boasts rivers, forests, parks, and a tall-grass
prairie plus a spectacular award-winning bridge, two historic cities and
a modern airport.
To build a great trail like the IPP Geneva Spur takes two things: leadership
and cooperation. The leadership has been provided by Jack T. Knuepfer,
former chairman of the DuPage County Board, and by the DuPage County Division
of Transportation, together with the Kane County Forest Preserve District.
Cooperating agencies include the City of West Chicago, the DuPage County
Airport Authority, the City of Geneva and Geneva Park District, the DuPage
County Forest Preserve District, Geneva Township, and private entities
such as Commonwealth Edison Company and Good Templar Park in Geneva.
Our heartfelt thanks to all for a magnificent achievement!
SOS: IPP Needs Archivist ASAP
After thirty years of trail work our Illinois Prairie Path volunteers have
accumulated a lot of records: letters, books, notes, newspaper clippings,
photographs and slides (the Moorings have thousands), legal documents, construction
plans and specifications, and memorabilia like signs and banners celebrating
various events in the long history of our trail. Right now most of it is
in the attic at the Members' Room in Wheaton, at the home of Path Secretary
Nancy Becker, or filling a bedroom at the Moorings'.
The board has decided to seek an experienced archivist, someone who
understands the techniques of preserving, organizing and cataloging all
these materials and developing a method of filing and displaying them
so that they can be studied and appreciated by persons interested in learning
what volunteers have done to develop and defend our treasured trail.
There will be a stipend commensurate with experience. Call Jean Mooring
at 630-469-4289 if you are qualified and want to help with a truly monumental
task.
Improvement in progress at Great Western Trail intersection
The steps are being removed west of Prince Crossing Road on the Elgin Branch,
thanks to the DuPage County Division of Transportation. The Illinois Prairie
Path and Great Western Trail will intersect at grade, eliminating the climb
over the high former Great Western Railroad embankment.
The wood steps, which cost only $500, were the first major construction
project of the Illinois Prairie Path volunteers and were designed by Paul
Mooring, built in 1975, and served well for twenty years. They were made
necessary when the Great Western Railroad filled in the original Chicago,
Aurora and Elgin underpass after the CA&E abandoned its right-of-way
in 1961. Now, at last, all our users will have to worry about at this
new intersection is avoiding collisions with Great Western Trail users.
Heads up and go slow everyone!
New IDOT design policy for bicycles on highways:
a model for Counties and Cities too
The board of directors of The Illinois Prairie Path supports bicycle transportation
on highways as well as on off-road trails like the Prairie Path. For example,
we applaud the new comprehensive bikeway plan as developed by the DuPage
County Regional Planning Commission. We are also pleased to learn that the
Illinois Department of Transportation has issued a new design policy to
promote bicycling on federal-aid and state-funded roadway projects.
According to the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation newsletter of late 1995,
"Illinois law grants to bicyclists the same rights as motor vehicles
to travel roadways on which they are not explicitly prohibited. Because
the roadway design process has not routinely considered factors that affect
bicycle use, however, access on many roads has been virtually restricted
for bicyclists.
"An important tool for correcting such discrepancies was made available
on August 1, 1995. On that date IDOT's Bureau of Design and Environment
Procedure Memorandum No. 95-21 -- Policies and Procedures for
Accommodating Bicycle Travel in Highway improvements -- took
effect. ..... This document establishes a new element for all roadway
improvement projects: the review and correction of roadway design deficiencies
that do not accommodate bicyclists."
Corrective measures, where warranted, may include adding paved shoulders
without rumble strips on rural roads or widening the curb lane without
a striped separation on urban and suburban roads. Other measures recommend
adopting AASHTO standards (American Association of State Highway Traffic
Organizations) for marked bicycle lanes, and for accommodating access
across bridges and at bike path/roadway intersections, as well as the
design of incidental factors such as drain grates and railroad crossings,
and aspects of signing, marking, and traffic controls.
Kudos to IDOT for this farsighted policy of integrating basic low-cost
roadway improvements which will make our state roads more user-friendly
for bicyclists. We hope that local municipalities and the DuPage County
DOT will follow suit.
Grand celebration planned for National Trails Day
Grand is the word in the DuPage County trail community
for June 1, 1996. At 2:00 p.m. on that day at Reed-Keppler Park in West
Chicago we will say thank you to the governmental agencies that are working
together to build one of the grandest systems of multipurpose trails and
bikeways in the United States.
Everyone who loves trails is invited including hikers, runners, bicyclists,
horseback-riders, cross-country skiers, and local homeowners, many of
whom have told us they bought their house because it was near the Illinois
Prairie Path. We expect that some noted trail fans will attend too: Governor
Jim Edgar with his bicycle, DuPage County Board Chairman Gayle Franzen
with his horse, and former Chairman Jack T. Knuepfer with his walking
stick and lederhosen.
The day's events will include:
- The Grand Opening of the Illinois Prairie Path Geneva Spur, a long-awaited
event made possible by the outstanding leadership of the DuPage County
Division of Transportation with the generous cooperation of many other
agencies. See page 2.
- The official naming of the award-winning bridge over the Union Pacific
and Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroads, adjoining Reed-Keppler Park.
The bridge is to be named in honor of former DuPage County Board Chairman
Jack T. Knuepfer, whose vision inspired the DPCDOT to build the bridge
and complete the DuPage County section of the Geneva Spur as well as
to assume maintenance responsibility for the entire DuPage County portions
of the Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail.
- The Grand Finale of the Grand Adventure -- a monumental 475-mile
trek around the proposed Grand Illinois Trail. The Illinois Department
of Natural Resources is the lead agency in planning this trail, which
will cross northern Illinois twice between Chicago and the Mississippi
and link some seventeen existing or planned trails. The Grand Adventure,
designed to publicize this ambitious trail project, will begin on May
11 at Navy Pier in Chicago and will end on June 1, National Trails Day
at Reed-Keppler Park in West Chicago. The leader of the tour will be
Mike Ulm, Executive Director of the Illinois Rails-to-Trails Conservancy,
based in Springfield. He invites trail users, bicyclists, hikers, runners,
equestrians, to join him at any point on the tour and/or as he bikes
into Reed-Keppler Park on June 1 for a spectacular finish. See page
6 for the tour itinerary and watch the mail and your newspaper for further
information.
Showdown with Com Ed
Commonwealth Edison crews started cutting trees to make room for 85-foot
steel transmission line poles on the Illinois Prairie Path at Winfield Road
on January 25, 1996. In response the City of Warrenville called the police
who ordered the Com Ed employees to stop. Warrenville Alderman Bob Siebert
stated that the city zoning ordinance requires the utility company to come
in for permits and public hearings before construction of the 138,000-volt
lines can begin. Com Ed has not even submitted a site plan showing how the
Prairie Path will be landscaped and residents will be protected from electromagnetic
fields after the trees are cut and the power lines are installed through
the heart of the city.
Com Ed in its turn filed suit in the Illinois Appellate Court asking
that the court reaffirm the utility's right to proceed as decided by the
Illinois Commerce Commission in October. Although the appellate court
denied a stay of construction in January, Warrenville is standing firm
in its requirement that the permitting process be followed. Siebert expects
other municipalities to be concerned as well and says, "If you take
away this, you take away the ability to rule and protect the welfare of
the homeowners." And the battle goes on.
Meanwhile the Friends of the Prairie Path are planning a FUNdraising
weekend for their lawsuit against Com Ed, in which suit they are joined
by DuPage County, the City of Warrenville, and the Citizens Utility Board.
On Saturday, April 13, (1996) the Friends will hold a Walk-, Ride-, and
Bike-a-thon from 10:00 to 3:00 starting at the gazebo in Warrenville.
Sponsors and donations will be sought and there will be prizes. Call Mary
Marzano for details at 630-393-1725. On Sunday, April 14, the Friends
will throw a rip-roaring, rollicking dance at Synergy, 6:30 to 10:00,
with the theme "Keep It Green--Stop The Chop!" Tickets will
be available for $12.50 each at local park district offices after March
15. Call Connie Schmidt for information at 630-393-6276.
In Memoriam: Jane Sindt
One of the eleven members of The Illinois Prairie Path's first board of
directors, Jane B. Sindt of Naperville, passed away on December 24, 1995,
at her home. A good friend of Path Founder May Theilgaard Watts and Co-Founder
Helen Turner, who were both also long time Naperville residents, Jane Sindt
played an energetic role in publicizing the fledgling trail during its early
years. Her training as an actress helped greatly in developing an enthusiastic
trail constituency through dramatic illustrated talks before scores of civic
groups. She was a woman of wide-ranging interests and a leader in establishing
local institutions, such as the Naperville Heritage Society, the Naperville
Historic District and Riverwalk, the Farmers Market at Fifth Avenue Station,
and the May Watts Society. Many historic structures in Naperville owe their
preservation to her. Well known for her strong convictions and sense of
style, she inspired respect for nature and our cultural heritage. Her vision
helped shape the Naperville we know today.
Saturday, May 11 (36 Miles - Bicycle)
Begin at Navy Pier in Chicago and end in Lockport.
Cities: Chicago, Lemont, Lockport
Sunday, May 12 (36.6 Miles - Bicycle)
Begin in Lockport with a stop at I&M building. Then on to Joliet for
another stop (late morning/early afternoon). Continue on to I&M Canal.
Stop at Morris for the night.
Cities: Lockport, Joliet, Channahon, Morris.
Monday, May 13 (33 Miles - Bicycle)
Travel I&M Canal from Morris to Utica, making any needed stops, spend
night in Utica or at Starved Rock State Park.
Cities: Morris, Marseilles, Ottawa, Utica
Tuesday, May 14 (36.3 Miles - Bicycle, Hike, Horse)
Leave Starved Rock or Utica and get to LaSalle-Peru for morning meetings
with local officials (need to make appointments). Then head to Lock 8
on the Hennepin Canal and continue to Lock 13 (access from county road
1670E). We may walk this section of the canal. Spend night in Princeton,
or other nearby community.
Cities: LaSalle-Peru, Spring Valley, to Hennepin Canal.
Wednesday, May 15 (26 Miles - Horse, Hike, Bike)
Bike or hike from Lock 13 to the visitor's center for a stop. Horseback
from visitor's center to Lock 23. Camp here, or find other lodging.
Cities: All day on Hennepin Canal
Thursday, May 16 (16.8 Miles - Horse, Canoe)
Horseback 8 miles to Genesco for a stop. Get into canoe at Genesco boat
ramp. Canoe 8.8 miles to Lock 26.
Cities: Genesco
Friday, May 17 (18 Miles - Hike, Bike, Horse)
Begin at Lock 26 and use county roads for stops in Colona and Green Rock.
Continue into Rock Island and the beginning of the Ben Butterworth Trail.
Stop here for the day.
Cities: Colona, Green Rock, Quad Cities
Saturday, May 18 (18.5 Miles - Hike, Bike)
Begin day on Ben Butterworth Trail with an event. Bicycle the trail 12
miles north to Hampton with possible stops along the way. Hike the 6.5
miles from Hampton to Port Byron along Highway 84.
Cities: Quad Cities, Hampton, Port Byron
Sunday, May 19 (21.5 Miles - Hike, Bike)
Hike from Port Byron to north of Cordova (5.9 miles). Bicycle from Cordova
to Albany (8 miles). Hike from Albany to Fulton (7.6 miles). Make any
necessary stops in these towns.
Cities: Port Byron, Cordova, Albany, Fulton
Monday, May 20 (20.7 Miles - Hike, Bike)
Hike from Fulton to Thompson (7.3 miles). Bike from Thompson to Savannah,
with possible stops. Continue on to Mississippi Palisades State Park for
the night (13.4 miles).
Cities: Fulton, Thompson, Savannah, Mississippi Palisades State Park.
Tuesday, May 21 (29.5 Miles - Bike)
Bicycle from Mississippi Palisades through the hills to Galena, with possible
stop in Hanover.
Cities: Mississippi Palisades State Park, Hanover, Galena
Wednesday, May 22 (0 Miles - Rest)
Meetings in Galena, relax.
Cities: Galena
Thursday, May 23 (27.1 Miles - Bicycle)
Bicycle hilly roads from Galena to Apple River Canyon State Park. Stay
in the park?
Cities: Warren, Apple River Canyon State Park
Friday, May 24 (37.8 Miles - Bicycle)
Bicycle roads from Apple River Canyon S.P. to the western terminus of
the Pecatonica Prairie Path. Make a stop at Freeport. May have to put
in more miles on previous day to make time for Freeport meeting.
Cities: Lena, Freeport
Saturday, May 25 (20 Miles - Hike, MT Bike, Horse)
Use best method of travel to traverse the length of the Pecatonica Prairie
Path, ending near Winnebago (20 miles). Possibly continue on into Rockford
(additional 7 miles) depending on event schedule.
Cities. Freeport, Ridott, Pecatonica, Winnebago
Sunday, May 26 (12-15 Miles - Hike, Bike, Skate?)
Head from Pecatonica Prairie Path into Rockford for Events (could possibly
cover this distance the Previous day). Attend Rockford events on Rock
River Recreation Path, and continue up to Loves Park. End day at Rock
Cut State Park.
Cities. Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Rock Cut State Park
Memorial Day
Monday, May 27 (38.3 Miles - Hike, Bike, Skate?)
Begin at Rock Cut S.P. traveling east to Boone County and the Long Prairie
Trail. Traverse this trail to its eastern terminus at County Line Road.
Stop in Harvard? Then continue through McHenry County to a location just
south of Woodstock.
Cities. Poplar Grove, Harvard, Woodstock
Tuesday, May 28 (29 Miles - Bike)
Begin at yesterday's stopping point just south of Woodstock. Take county
roads to the McHenry County Prairie Trail South at Crystal Lake. Follow
the trail south to the Fox River Trail and continue south on it to where
it intersects the northern leg of the Illinois Prairie Path. End here
for the day.
Cities: Crystal Lake, Algonquin, East Dundee, Elgin
Wednesday, May 29 (27.5 Miles - Bike)
Begin the day at the intersection of Crystal Lake Road and the McHenry
County Prairie Trail South and head east through Moraine Hills State Park
to Libertyville. End Day in Libertyville.
Cities: Crystal Lake, Moraine Hills State Park, Wauconda, Mundelein, Libertyville
Thursday, May 30 (23.5 Miles - Bike, Hike or Horse)
Begin in Libertyville, then get on the Des Plaines River Trail and head
south into Cook County. End day on Des Plaines River Trail near the gap
at Ballard Road or on Algonquin Road.
Cities: Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods
Friday, May 31 (23.3 Miles - Bike, Hike or Horse)
Continue south on the Des Plaines River Trail to Washington Street. From
here, head to the beginning of the Illinois Prairie Path in Hillside.
End here for the day
Cities: Maywood, Hillside
National Trails Day
Saturday, June 1 (19 Miles - Multi Modal?)
Ride the Illinois Prairie Path from Hillside to the final event in West
Chicago.
Cities: Berkeley, Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton,
Winfield, West Chicago
Editor's Note: This is a preliminary outline. For details contact Mike
Ulm, Exececutive Director Illinois Rails-to-Trails Conservancy 319 W.
Cook St., Springfield, IL 62704. Phone: 217-789-4782.
West Chicago Prairie Events
Sunday, March 17, 1996
Restoration work day: Raking in Seed and/or clearing invading brush. 9:00
a.m. - Noon.
Saturday, March 30, 1996
Restoration Work Day. Clearing invading brush and/or raking in seed. 9:00
a.m. - Noon.
Saturday, April 13, 1996
Birding Trip. Good mix of winter residents and early arrivals. 7:00 a.m.
- 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 20, 1996
Restoration Work Day. Raking in seed. 9:00 a.m. - Noon.
Saturday, May 4, 1996
Birding Trip. Summer residents, migrating warblers and sparrows. About
50 species. Annual DuPage County Spring Count. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, May 25, 1996
Birding Trip. Summer residents and migrating warblers. Should see Yellow-breasted
Chat. About 50 species. 6:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Saturday May 25, 1996
Field Trip. Good displays of Golden Alexander, Shooting Star, Hoary Puccoon,
Wild Blue Indigo, Yellow Star Grass, Prairie Violet, Cream Indigo, and
many others. 9:00 a.m. - Noon.
Sunday, June 16, 1996
Birding Trip. Summer residents. Should see Yellow-breasted Chat and Sedge
Wren. 6:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Sunday, June 16, 1996
Field Trip. Good displays of Spiderwort, Spiked Lobelia, Black-eyed Susan,
Wild White Indigo, Wild Rose, Marsh Phlox, and Purple Coneflower. 9:00
a.m. - Noon.
All events except the winter bird count start from the West Chicago
Prairie parking lot located on the east side of Industrial Drive between
Western and Downs. Information: Mel Hoff, 630-393-4715, or JoAnn Monge,
630-961-2041, day or evening. Special trips can be arranged for groups.
Spring Activities, rain or shine
Saturday, March 16, 1996
Brush clearing on our IPP prairie south of North Ave. with Keith Olson.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. in parking area on northwest corner of IPP and North Ave.
Information: Dick Wilson, 847-299-7882 (8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Saturday, March 30, 1996
Brush clearing at West Chicago Prairie with Mel Hoff. Meet at 9:00 a.m.
at MacQueen Drive and the Path. Information: Dick Wilson. See above.
Saturday, April 13, 1996 (or as determined by each
municipality)
Earth Day Cleanup along entire length of Illinois Prairie
Path.
For information call: (all areacodes 630)
Maywood, Paul Aeschleman 708-848-6023
Bellwood, Susan Wisniewski 708-493-1316
Hillside-Berkeley, John Kacich 708-544-7524
Elmhurst, Steve Plumb 630-279-8690
Villa Park, Marlon Hummell 630-834-8525
Lombard, Joelyn Kott 630-620-5718
Glen Ellyn, Jean Mooring 630-469-4289
Wheaton, Kathy Williamson 630-462-7846
Winfield, David Tate 630-682-1449
West Chicago, Tom Yule 630-293-1726
Warrenville, Bob Rawls 630-393-6720
Wayne, David Tate 630-682-1449
Saturday, May 18, 1996
Bird Walk in Pratt's Wayne Woods to look for spring arrivals. Meet at 9:00
a.m. in the far back parking area. Lunch and drink are optional Located
in Wayne. From Rt. 59 go west on Army Trail Road to Powis Road (about 2
miles); then go north to the forest preserve entrance. Leaders: Dick Wilson
(See above); Paul Mooring, 630-469-4289.
Saturday, June 1, 1996
Ten-mile Hike for National Trails Day on the newly-opened Illinois Prairie
Path Geneva Spur. Meet at 9:00 a.m. on the northwest corner of Geneva
Road and County Farm Road in Winfield. Bring lunch and drink. Leader:
Dick Wilson (See above).
Saturday, June 1, 1996
GRAND CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
at Reed-Keppler Park, West Chicago at 2:00 p.m. Ceremony, food and fun.
Y'ALL COME! See page 4.
MEMBERSHIP RATES: Individual $20
Family $20
Organization/Supporting $30
Sustaining $50
Patron $100
Lifetime $500
Illinois Prairie Path
P.O. Box 1086
Wheaton, Illinois 60189
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